Jonathon Candy: Man who killed wife, 3 children before turning gun on himself struggled with depression
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
YUKON, OKLAHOMA: Jonathon Candy, who fatally shot his wife and three children before turning the gun on himself, was struggling with depression, claims a neighbor.
The victims of the tragic incident have been identified as his wife, Lindsay, and their three sons, Dylan, 18, Ethan, 14, and Lucas, 12.
Jonathon and Lindsay's youngest son, 10, who called 911 after seeing his family shot to death on Monday, April 22, is the only surviving member of the family.
Since the deceased couple had no history of domestic abuse or previous 911 calls, authorities believed the shooting occurred during a dispute between them.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Master Sgt Gary Knight noted, "Investigators determined that sometime overnight the husband and father in the home, Jonathon Candy, became involved in an altercation with his wife, Lindsay."
He added, "At some point, he armed himself with a gun, shot her multiple times, killing her. At that point, he systematically went through the home, shooting and killing their children."
Who was Jonathon Candy?
According to his LinkedIn page, Jonathon worked as a video engineer for Cox Media.
Police later revealed that he worked part-time at the Paycom Center, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder. An official with the team confirmed he worked as a "game night engineer.''
Friends and neighbors say he was at the playoff game Sunday night just hours before the shooting.
The family resided in Yukon, Oklahoma, within a subdivision known as Czech Hall Estates, where the housing prices range between $211,000 and $365,000.
On Tuesday, other members of the Candy family shared their shock with KFOR since they could not imagine a "goofy" Jonathon attempting something like a murder-suicide.
"Our entire family has been left shattered and confused with so many questions we won’t ever have answers to. Jonathon was the one whose jokes and goofy attitude kept everyone smiling. Aside from these events, his children and wife were his entire life," read a statement issued by the Candy family.
It continued, "I simply can’t fathom what went on but please, hug your family tight. It’s going to be a very long healing process for everyone affected."
Jonathon Candy apparently struggled with depression
Michael Burcham, 68, a neighbor of the family, claimed that the father at the center of this quadruple murder was not someone who kept to himself. He was always eager to help people and assisted Burcham with his car and lawnmower.
Moreover, Burcham and Jonathon spent time flying their drones together, and Burcham considered him a friend, according to The Oklahoman. The 68-year-old mentioned he never witnessed or heard of any incidents between Jonathon and his wife, Lindsay.
"I just question everything. Something was going on behind scenes that no one knew," said Burcham
Burcham noted that Jonathon owned guns and had food up, but it wasn't an unusual amount.
"He must have really been having a hard time," expressed Burcham, sharing that Jonathon had previously confided in him as they both struggled with depression.
The 68-year-old neighbor said something must have triggered Jonathon for such an incident to take place.
"We assumed that everything was fine other than his depression," stated Burcham to KOCO, adding, "If somebody needed something, and he had a shop in the back. I needed something to load one day. Called him and he said, 'Yeah, I'll do it for you.' That's the kind of person he was."
Jonathon and Lindsay Candy once appeared in a TV interview
Less than two years before the tragic murder-suicide, Lindsay, 39, appeared in an interview with her husband, Jonathon, for the TV series 'Discover Oklahoma'.
The episode, which aired on Nov 26, 2022, featured the couple as regular customers of a bakery and deli in Yukon, which was featured in the show, as per PEOPLE Magazine.
In their interview, Jonathon and Lindsay praised the burritos sold by the deli and joked about their love for carrot cake and cannoli.
Young victims Ethan, Dylan, and Lucas Candy
Two of the children, Ethan and Lucas, were students in the local Mustang Public School district. While Dylan graduated from high school in 2023, as per DailyMail.
TJ Armstrong, Ethan's baseball coach, honored him and his family, describing them as "beautiful" and noted, "I hugged every one of these kids yesterday."
In a statement to the parents, school superintendent Charles Bradley conveyed the news, saying, "We are shocked, and our hearts are broken; this tragedy simply defies understanding. It is with a very heavy heart that I share some very sad news with all of you."
Bradley added, "While this has been a very difficult year for the MPS Family, both students and adults may struggle with managing their feelings and reactions to this news. Our Crisis Response Team has been present at schools today and will continue to be in place moving forward for as long as they are needed."
He also encouraged parents to observe their children's behavior, regardless of their familiarity with the victims, as per Fox News.
"Feelings of anger, hurt, guilt and sadness are natural, common grief reactions include sleep disturbances, temporary loss of appetite, anxiety and fears about the health and safety of friends and family," shared Bradley.
Unharmed 10-year-old boy left as sole survivor
According to Master Sgt Knight, "There was one child, the one who called 911, who was found unharmed. We don't know why he was left unharmed."
Additionally, he said that the surviving child, 10, was "apparently asleep" during his father's rampage, only to awaken and "discover what had happened." It was noted that a box fan was operating inside the room at the time.
"There is no indication he didn't sleep through it," mentioned Knightm, adding, "It was certainly most horrific for the young man who woke up and found the carnage," as per TooFab.
The child is currently under the care of relatives.
If you have any information regarding the case, please contact the Oklahoma City Police Department's Homicide Tip Line at 405-297-1200.
